MovieChat Forums > Den of Thieves (2018) Discussion > Are there real ex-military armed robbery...

Are there real ex-military armed robbery gangs?

posted 7 years ago by mobocracy (902)
9 replies | jump to latest

You would almost think such a thing should exist -- lots of people on the streets with extensive military training and actual combat experience. And with the military's emphasis on special-forces type small-units, urban warfare, raids and combat against irregulars, it almost seems like the ideal skill set for armed robbery.

I don't know how good the cops are in absolute terms, but I don't think they generally have the skill or experience of more elite, combat-experienced military veterans. Vets, SWAT, sure, but the overall police force isn't focused on warfare combat.

I suppose the challenge is, as always, getting away. Your elite squad turned bank robbers may have a force advantage of 5-1 or something, but the cops have outright total numerical superiority and you can't hold them all off. Once you get into a firefight with the cops, you are a marked man.

[–] RogueDemonHunter (2688) 7 years ago

The escape would be the problem yeah. You would have to have a genius plan. It doesn't matter if you outgun and outnumber the police and have no qualms about killing them. Without a solid escape plan, you're done.

20 years ago you could get away with it as did the 'High Incident Bandits' until their demise which arguably kick started the beginning of the end of stuff like armoured car heists e.t.c. Now with the up armouring of the police who are practically patrolling as 2 man military fire teams, the massive increase in surveillance and monitoring of the population, the likelihood of getting away is slim to none.

[–] jasonbourne033 (105) 7 years ago

no. it's left-wing propaganda. ex-military protect freedom and women and children, that is what that skill set is best suited for.

[–] filmtenk (765) 7 years ago

When America gets involved in major wars, there’s always unforeseen consequences. Lots of WWI vets came back found enforcer work for the mob during prohibition. A Vietnam veteran who did and saw horrible things buddied up with / mentored Richard Ramirez aka The Night Stalker. In recent times vets care back from middle eastern wars and so many are screwed up, committing suicide in unsustainable numbers, turning to drugs. Ex military are not all angels. I blame the government for involving us in all the wars post WW2. They were unnecessary and society suffers as a result.

[–] halomaniac88 (1736) 7 years ago

i agree

[–] [deleted] 6 years ago

what , in their spare time?

[–] HarlemEagle42 (18425) 6 years ago

Yeah they're called Neo-Nazis.

[–] Strazdas (2472) 6 years ago

So a group that is used as boogeyman but does not actually exist?

[–] Strazdas (2472) 6 years ago

Unlike in the movies, in reality armed robbery doesnt pay. It just does not pass risk/reward checks. Too risky for too little chance of success. This is why armed robbery criminals tend to be mentally deficient in reality. Smart ones know better. The actual organized crime has moved primarily online: identity theft, false transactions, account phishing. Much harder to trace them and even if done less harsh sentences.

[–] JohnnyDoe (1950) 6 years ago

Drug cartels